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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Houma, Louisiana » Sugarcane Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #171971
Title: Sugarcane Cultivar Yield Response to Planting Date

Author
item Viator, Ryan
item Richard Jr, Edward
item Garrison, Donnie
item Dufrene, Edwis
item Tew, Thomas

Submitted to: American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/6/2005
Publication Date: 6/15/2005
Citation: Viator, R.P., Richard Jr, E.P., Garrison, D.D., Dufrene Jr, E.O., Tew, T.L. 2005. Sugarcane Cultivar Yield Response to Planting Date. Journal of American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists. 25:78-87. Available online: http://www.assct.org/journal/journal.htm

Interpretive Summary: Sugarcane in Louisiana is propagated from vegetative stalk cuttings from August to October. This research was initiated to determine if different varieties are affected by the date of planting. Cane was planted on August 15, September 15, and October 15 in 1996-1999 using five different varieties. Based on cane and sugar yields in the plant-cane crop, the optimal planting date for CP 70-321, LHo 83-153, and HoCP 85-845 was August, with a September planting being similar to an October planting. Planting date did not affect cane or sugar yield of LCP 85-384 and CP 79-318. Producers should attempt to plant varieties sensitive to planting date in August to insure stand establishment and optimum yields in the plant-cane crop.

Technical Abstract: As Louisiana farms continue to get larger and possibly more diversified due to the acreage limitations, more acreage is being planted both earlier and later in the season. It is important for research to consistently identify varieties that tolerate both late and early planting dates in an effort to increase management flexibility especially on fields where sugarcane is being plant behind a rotational crop such as corn, soybeans, or cotton. Cane was planted on August 15, September 15, and October 15 in 1996-1999 using five different varieties (CP 70-321, LHo 83-153, CP 79-318, LCP 85-384, and HoCP 85-845). Population counts were taken prior to harvest. Plots were machine harvested in December in the year immediately following the planting with a whole-stalk harvester and a tractor equipped with a scale to determine cane yield. Cane quality and stalk weight were assessed with a randomly collected fifteen whole-stalk sample. The optimal planting date for CP 70-321, LHo 83-153, and HoCP 85-845 was August, with a September planting being similar to an October planting. Sugar yield with the August planting was 14.4 Mt ha-1 compared to 12.3 and 11.5 Mt ha-1 for September and October plantings, respectively. Higher sucrose concentration and higher stalk populations for the August plantings contributed to this yield increase. Planting date did not affect cane or sugar yield of LCP 85-384 and CP 79-318. Producers should attempt to plant varieties sensitive to planting date in August to insure stand establishment and optimum yields in the plant-cane crop.